FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2008 USA teams post big wins at 2008 World Juniors (STEVENS POINT, Wis.) - Both USA teams began Wednesday with wins at the 2008 World Junior Championships in Ostersund, Sweden. Chris Plys (Duluth, Minn.) and teammates Aanders Brorson (Duluth, Minn.), Matt Perushek (Eveleth, Minn.), Daniel Plys (Duluth, Minn.) and Matt Hamilton (McFarland, Wis.) improved to 4-2 with a 6-4 win over the Czech Republic's Krystof Chaloupek team in an extra end. They return to the ice in tonight's draw against Switzerland (5-1). The Swiss suffered their first loss of the competition this morning to Sweden, 5-4. Those two teams, along with Canada, are tied for first place followed by the U.S. The top four teams advance to the Page Playoffs on Saturday. USA's Nina Spatola (McFarland, Wis.), Becca Hamilton (McFarland, Wis.), Anna Plys (Duluth, Minn.), Jenna Haag (Milton, Wis.) and Karlie Koenig (Waukesha, Wis.) knocked Denmark out of first place with a lopsided 9-2 win in just six ends. This score was identical to the USA men's win yesterday against Denmark, also in six ends. The U.S. women finish out the round robin with games Thursday against Canada and Germany. Russia, Scotland and Sweden are tied for first place with 5-2 records with Denmark sitting in fourth place at 4-3. If the American ladies win their remaining matches, there is still a slim chance that they could force a tiebreaker game for a playoff berth. The round robin continues through Friday morning. Live scoring and a webcam to watch the action can be found at www.curlingkanalen.se. The USA-Germany women's game will be featured on the live camera at 7 p.m. Thursday (noon CT). Wednesday line scores: Czech Republic 010 020 000 10 4
USA men* 200 100 100 02 6 Denmark 001 010 XXX X 2
USA women* 110 403 XXX X 9
* last rock in first end Standings: Men: Canada 5-1
Sweden 5-1
Switzerland 5-1
USA 4-2
Norway 3-3
China 2-4
Denmark 2-4
Germany 2-4
Czech Republic 1-5
Scotland 1-5 Women: Russia 5-2
Scotland 5-2
Sweden 5-2
Denmark 4-3
Canada 3-4
Japan 3-4
Norway 3-4
Switzerland 3-4
Germany 2-5
USA 2-5 USA Curling is sponsored by AIT Worldwide Logistics, AmerAust Technologies and Nike as well as by AT,T through a joint marketing program with the U.S. Olympic Committee. (30) For more information: Terry Kolesar, USA Curling, terry.kolesar@usacurl.org, 715-344-1199, Ext. 202, or 608-338-9900 (cell).